Royal Welsh record breaker

30 July 2013

The Royal Welsh Show celebrated 50 years on its permanent site at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, where it settled in 1963, by breaking records.

The show drew the highest-ever attendance of 241,781 and more new supporters from across Wales and the rest of the UK were signed up during the event to create a record membership of 19,700.

The show also attracted an attendance of nearly 1000 overseas visitors from 40 countries.

The RWAS did not set out to break new records and last year’s attendance of 241,099 appeared unbeatable until the biggest one-day figure of 72,315 on day three of the show made the possibility achievable as any doubts that the recession might slow down the upward trend were swept aside by the swathes of visitors converging on the showground.

The presence of the Prince of Wales, a former President of the society, and the Duchess of Cornwall, helped to swell the crowds who enjoyed four days of sunny weather. Later, the Prince sent a message of thanks to the society for the warm welcome they had received.

The show’s organisers were delighted with the success of what they described as a trouble-free show.

“This is a people’s show and the people have spoken out in the past few days,” said the chairman of the Royal Welsh board, John Davies. “We have managed once again to replicate the success of the society in the name of our nation. As we reflect on 50 years at Llanelwedd our forefathers must be looking down and saying ‘job well done!’.”

The success of the show which generates around £40m a year would also give a huge boost to the economy, he said.